the truth about introverts (part 1)

I’m an introvert. Cait’s an introvert. Introverts are quite common among the human species.

So why do people introvert? (It’s totally a verb. Ask Pinterest.) What is this peculiar psychological phenomenon? Well, I don’t know exactly, but here goes.

To me, making friends is scary. Why? People say, “Be yourself!” What does that even mean? See, being yourself can be kind of… difficult. This clip (it’s not very long, so you should definitely watch it) is a prime example of what can happen when an introvert tries to be themselves while meeting people.

(Note the nervous laughter, over analyzing in presentation, random outbursts, and note cards for help in awkward moments.)

As you can see, there are very reasonable grounds for an introvert to be afraid of meeting new people.

Doubtless, if you know an introvert, you can see that they are wonderful people, (once they get past needing to read their responses off note cards). And, in case you need some help understanding introvert tendencies, here’s a few tips.

An introvert may look like this when you talk to them:

But that doesn’t mean they’re thinking this:

In fact, they’re feeling like this:

Because they don’t know how to connect with you like this (why do we chat?!?):

But be careful, because if you act like this around an introvert:

They’ll want to do this to you:

So now that you understand what it feels to be an introvert making their way in society. Cait will join us with Part 2 next week on how be friends with an introvert. (That promises to be…interesting.)

Mime is thinking her GIF-ing skills (it’s totally a verb, just like introverting) are pretty good. Either that, or this is an excellent way to procrastinate getting drooled on. (Don’t ask.) She is reading Reboot and watching X-Men 3, and wondering if she can justify going to see The Wolverine. Also, all that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has given her an insatiable craving for chocolate.

Comments

Yay for Willy Wonka and all introverts (including myself ;-))!Should there be any relation to writing (or did you read GTW today? I saw the word 'introvert' a couple times! You knew that, didn't you? :P)?

Ha! This is so true. I probably have Edmund's look most of the time when I talk to people I don't know well. I try to smile. . . but it doesn't always work. "Hi, how are you?" is the beginning and end of my make-conversation skills. 😛 And why is it that people who aren't introverts think of the word "introvert" with such bad connotation?

Bad connontations? That I will never know. It's like being shy is a disease sometimes. 🙂 Yeah, I either have the Edmund look when I'm talking to new people, or a smile that looks like I'm being slowly electectued from the inside out. Either way, it doesn't make for ease of conversation. -_-

Being an introvert myself, I think that all of the gifs apply perfectly. I've learned through the world of social media that talking to people is easier when it's online. I talk to people online all the time, but if I were to see them in person a smile and a wave would be all they would be able to get out of me.Can't wait to see what Cait has to say:)

I like this. This is really accurate, actually.The funny thing is that almost all of my friends are introverts, so I don't have to worry about this so much. I'm perfectly fine talking to people, and enjoy socializing (yep, officially on the Dark Side now), it's just that I need my alone time.Thanks for the post, Mime!

A short story about myself to illustrate my introvertedness: I recently moved to a new state and I was extremely proud of myself for making a good friend within a few months. Fast forward about a year, and my friend is leaving this fall for a college in another state. As for me, I am PANICKING because I have to make ANOTHER friend. I thought I had this friend thing covered! But noooooo. I must venture forth once more into the wild scary territory of the people who do not have friends but need friends and therefore must behave in a manner that will lead to friends. (Exasperatingly familiar territory.) In short, I am quite terrified and I'm thinking of moving to Australia. Merida's face describes my feelings perfectly.

I think Merida (or at least Brave) has faces that describe just about anything. It's the best movie ever for GIFs. :)Now THAT is what I call frustrating!! I hate that. That almost happened to me once–I got all my friend troubles sorted out and things were great. And then we moved. Practically trans continent. Okay, not 'trans' but half way across the other side. 🙂 Do move to Australia. I think that's a great idea.

Yes, this soon is happening to me too. Again. My friend got married (why would you go and do something like that 😉 ). Later on she will be moving, leaving me without any close friends! I'm kind of already getting lonely, and wondering if there are any good friends left where I live to. . . befriend. 😛

This post is completely, wonderfully accurate. I love having internet friends who understand! I /hate/ meeting and talking to new people. Once I'm friends with someone, though, I can be hyper and loud and seem very extroverted…but only for that one friend. Other humans are still totally out of the question. And even that one person it hard to socialize with because I just don't understand people and social standards, or even what's considered socially acceptable. Ugh. Homo sapiens are so confusing.

I don't see why it's hard to understand the introvert thing. I mean. I can do the friendly thing for a few months and be almost extroverted (emphasis on almost) but then I need a few months of solitude to recuperate. Apparently that's weird. 😉

Just found an article called "10 Myths About Introverts" and thought immediately of this post of yours. As an introvert myself, I agree totally with what you're saying here, and also the article. It's not that we don't like people, we just don't like LOTS of people all at once. (Go see The Wolverine. He's an introvert too.)